Felix Salten's Bambi

by Janet Schulman (Adaptor), Lou Fancher (Illustrator), Steve Johnson (Illustrator)

When Bambi is born on a spring morning deep in a forest glade, so begins one of the most moving and beloved of all children's stories. As the curious fawn grows into a majestic stag, he is exposed to all the beauty, hardship, and danger of the natural world. Bambi learns how to forage for food in winter and experiences the joy of frolicking in an open field in summer. He makes friends -- the wise old owl, the good hare, the chattery squirrels. And he confronts Man, the most feared of all creatures in the forest. Janet Schulman, Steve Johnson, and Lou Fancher have brilliantly adapted and reillustrated Felix Salten's classic novel to create a storybook perfectly suited for young readers. Children who loved Walt Disney's animated film and those who have an abiding interest in the natural world will be enchanted by this stunning presentation of an unforgettable tale.

Genres: Classics, Fiction, Childrens, Animals, Picture Books, Audiobook, Young Adult

Hardcover

First published January 1, 1999

About the author

Janet Schulman has worked in children’s book publishing as an editor and an author for more than 40 years. She is currently Editor-at-Large and Division Vice President of Random House and Alfred A. Knopf Books for Young Readers.

Reviews

[Jim · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ah Bambi...no, not the Bambi that works at the Rainbow Tavern, down on Sprague Avenue.

This is the REAL Bambi. The horned lord of the forest that later went to work as an actor for Walt Disney and late in life became best buds with Charlton Heston, head of the NRA. Outrageous, but completely true! This is the book that started it all, my friend.

I just read this book a couple of years ago and found it fascinating and horrifying at times, like when Salten describes the humans through the eyes and mind of the animals. We seem like some bizarre creatures from a very foreign, ugly place with bizarre mannerisms. Not natural at all!

'Bambi' also contains what I think is one of the very best chapters in any book I've read. It tells a brief story about the last two leaves on a tree at the very end of fall.
I've reread that chapter at least a half-dozen times.

I was quite surprised how much I liked this book.

[Rebecca · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of my most wept over books. Depicts humanity as divorced from grace.

*swears vengence on Disney desecration*

[Kate · Rating 4 out of 5]

I remember renewing this book from the library for several months in a row in elementary school and re-reading it obsessively. I wanted to pick it up again just to see if I could figure out what it was about the novel that affected me so much. It was really interesting to read it as an adult. I do still hate the Disney version since Salten's is just so much more compelling - and no forest fire. What struck me this time around was the depictions of masculinity and femininity especially in regards to gaining independence and wisdom. Bambi's relationship with the old stag is quite moving.

[Kelly · Rating 4 out of 5]

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There is something in the Northern air of Europe that spins tragedy, of this I am most certain (take a gander at Larssen, Hoeg...etc). Salten was given to me on a sensitive day, and instead of making it worse, he made it better. Yes. I am too far gone. So far as to crack jokes in a resturaunt where the nearby table was just served venison, rare, with a light bisque.

[Roxanyeli Oz · Rating 5 out of 5]

Hace ya muchos años, era aún una niña y aquí nació mi amor por la lectura <3 No recuerdo mucho de la historia, pero nunca olvidé lo mucho que disfruté.

Lo leí y escuché el audio libro algunas 10 veces, cada uno. Es el único libro que he releido. Y de seguro, cuando tenga hijos, será lo primero que les lea :')

[Lara Maynard · Rating 4 out of 5]

I hadn't know that Bambi the classic Disney animated movie was based on a novel. And now that I have listened to an abridged version of it, I think I definitely need to read the original by Salten.

[Lauren · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a beautiful abridged edition of Felix Salten’s Bambi. The paintings were exquisite and the language so beautiful. Janet Schumann used as much of the original language as she could and this adaptation of the original story. She did a beautiful job. My children and I very much enjoyed this edition as a read aloud this week.

[Ann · Rating 5 out of 5]

There is so much more here than the Disney movie. I had pretty much written it off as a classic that I didn’t care about, then I had heard a discussion of it on a podcast. The not-quite-hour that it cost to listen to the audiobook was well worth it; the story of a young deer discovering the world around him was the truest thing I had read about a child in a long time - kids really are blank slates and they require constant input, guidance, and supervision for their own safety, and sometimes, survival. If I had realized this more as a young parent, I probably would have structured things differently and had a lot more patience with my kids. Some insights into man’s relationship with the natural world round out a story that’s deeper than you would expect, full of warmth, humor, and understanding.

[Lemurkat · Rating 4 out of 5]

This edited/abridged version of classic children's novel loses some of the harsh, dark charm but is beautifully illustrated.

[Reader's Corner · Rating 5 out of 5]

Being Read By: Hoppy

[Mark Pedigo · Rating 3 out of 5]

(Audible stories, stories for kids, free "for as long as schools are closed" due to the Covid epidemic. Adapted by Janet Schulman from the book written by Felix Salten, illustrated by Steve Johnson and Lou Fancher)

An unabridged version of an adaptation from the original book, which seems slightly misleading. I haven't read the original, so I can't speak to it or the quality of the adaptation. A deer grows up from fawn to buck and learns some hard lessons along the way. A bit more somber/less gee-whiz than the Disney version.

[Julia · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read the original version translated by Whittaker Chambers and illustrated by Lou Fancher, which I can't find on this Goodreads list. I was very impressed by his observations of meadow and forest life - it was so beautiful. Really all of it, even the gruesome parts - its wildlife, right?

[Ms Jessica · Rating 4 out of 5]

https://smithlitblog.wordpress.com/20...

[Elsa · Rating 4 out of 5]

I bought an old copy of this book at an estate sale and I am extremely happy with it. The tale is very sweet. I look forward to lending it to my niece in the very near f8uture.

[Carrie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I normally don’t like adaptations of books, but the author did a good job of shortening it for younger kids while retaining the character of the original. The illustrations are excellent.

[Bec · Rating 4 out of 5]

Beautiful pictures, poetic translation.

[Justin Swanson]

🗣read aloud to kids

[Stacey-Lee · Rating 5 out of 5]

Such a beautiful wonderful classic that I first read too late in my life. I will definitely read it again to my kids and I will enjoy it as much as the first time

[Hannah Carmona · Rating 4 out of 5]

So interesting to read an adaptation of the original. Definitely a bit choppy due to needing to shorten the story but now I'm intrigued to read the full original

[Katy Lovejoy · Rating 5 out of 5]

for some reason I did not know Bambi was also a book

[Brandon · Rating 5 out of 5]

4th grade
Modern fantasy
The story of Bambi will forever be a classic. It is a perfect example of life. Encountering everything good and bad, but still growing through the process and making friends along the way, Bambi is very entertaining. It keeps you interested the whole way through the book and the illustrations are awesome!

[Diana Lynn · Rating 4 out of 5]

...And I thought the movie was sad...

[Iris · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed this book. I sat down and read it in one go (basically). It's one of those books that tells the story in a straight shot, so you can't really put it down. You track the life of this young Deer as he grows from Fawn to Buck. You witness him learning the harsh lessons of life and taking them in stride with the wisdom that very few people have.

You learn that the animal kingdom is wise and that its inhabitants are just as curious as we are. They can learn and adapt and understand too. I know this is a book written by Man, but it's so poetic and adept at conveying how the animals see the world that you can almost believe that it was written by Deer. Bambi is a timeless coming of age tale that is so honest and pure that it will stand strong in the heart of literature forever. 4.4/5

[Cecily · Rating 3 out of 5]

While I always knew that Disney totally butchered the stories they adopted, I thought that they couldn't meddle that much with a story about a deer. I was wrong. Not only do Salten's Bambi and Great Prince advocate isolation and self first, mankind is shown to be more than just hunters. Women, or does, are flighty and inconsequential. Bambi would never have faced vicious hunting dogs to save Faline. I appreciate Salten's view of nature, but in this case, I like Disney's Bambi and his sense of community.

[Jeremy · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a fantastic children's story. I'm speaking specifically of the Janet Schulman adaptation. It's terrific because the prose is beautiful without being sentimental. The story is an exceptionally honest attempt to delve into the inner life of Deer - even if it is through personification. I loved this book....it's lengthy but it is wonderfully written. It's allegorical, brutally honest and irreverent in its accounting. The wise musings of the "Great Prince" should not be lost on any young one.

[Alex Shrugged · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is an adaptation based on the original story of a newborn fawn as it grows up to become independent and learns the facts of life in a wilderness filled with hunters. Since I've not read the original story I cannot make a comparison. The current adaptation does talk about death by hunters in an indirect way, but at no time did I feel that the story tugged at my heart strings.

I doubt I will read this book again although it has made me curious about the original story.

[Brooke · Rating 5 out of 5]

I had to put this book on my list. I read this book multiple times in elementary school. It is my earliest memory of a book being able to provoke such strong feelings. I would love to go back and read it as an adult but would hate if it altered my feelings towards it (kinda of how I liked Spaghetti-O's as a kid and do not find them appealing at all as an adult.

[Barbara · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really had no intention of reading this book, but after reading the gruesome Last King of Scotland to my newborn, I wanted to read something more age-appropriate to her. So I pulled Bambi off the shelf and was pleasantly surprised. Plus, I enjoy reading my old first edition. It's a nice book.

[Leah · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was NOT like the Disney version. I remember seeing the Disney movie and then later reading this book...The only thing I remember from the book was the death of Bambi's rabbit friend (NOT named Thumper). Anyhow there was a really vivid description of the blood on the snow. You see how I'm still affected!

[Isabella · Rating 5 out of 5]

i found this book in the attic while unpacking bags when i first moved into my now house. i staretd off just reading it to my little brother before he went to bed at night, then i found myself just reading bambi to myself. it really makes you feel like you are there, really watching bambi every second of the book. this book is so hard to put down!